CIVIL DISTURBANCES
At the invitation of the Government Agent, Batticaloa, the Mission undertook the responsibility of running a Refugee Camp at the Ramakrishna Mission Shivananda Vidyalaya Campus (Kallady-Uppodai), Batticaloa, for the affected people. The school was temporarily closed and the School Hostel and Orphanage buildings were
converted into a camp for accommodating refugees from Padiyatalawa, Maha Oya, Polannaruwa, Hingurakgoda, Panadura, Moratuwa and Kataragama. Food, clothing, shelter and travelling expenses were provided for about 120 families during a period of two weeks.
Services rendered during the floods and civil disturbances were appreciated both by the Government and the Public.
TAKE-OVER OF SCHOOLS BY THE GOVERNMENT
In October 1960 all denominational schools assisted by the Government were taken over fully by the State. The Government took over the following schools that were being run by the Ramakrishna Mission (Ceylon Branch):
- 1. J/Vaidyeshwara Vidyalaya Mixed Senior Secondary English School.
- 2. J/Kokuvil Senior Secondary Tamil Mixed School.
- 3. T/Trincomalee Hindu School.
- 4. T/Primary Tamil Boys’ School.
- 5. T/Tambalagamam Tamil Mixed School.
- 6. V/Thandikulam Tamil Mixed School.
- 7. Bd/Lunugala Junior Secondary Tamil Mixed School.
- 8. Bt/Akkaraipattu Senior Secondary Tamil Mixed School.
- 9. Bt/Karaitivu Senior Secondary Tamil Mixed School
- 10. Bt/Karaitivu Junior Secondary Tamil Mixed School
- 11. Bt/Kalmunai Senior Secondary Tamil Mixed School.
- 12. Bt/Mandur Senior Secondary Tamil Boys’ School.
- 13. Bt/Mandur Girls’ Tamil School.
- 14. Bt/Kaluthawalai Senior Secondary Tamil Mixed School.
- 15. Bt/Palugamam Senior Secondary Tamil Mixed School.
- 16. Bt/Kokkotichcholai Junior Secondary Tamil Mixed School.
- 17. Bt/Araipattai Senior Secondary Tamil Mixed School.
- 18. Bt/Eachanthivu Junior Secondary Tamil Mixed School.
- 19. Bt/Kallady-Uppodai Senior Secondary Tamil Girls’ School.
- 20. Bt/Shivananda Vidhyalaya Residential Senior Secondary Boys’ English School.
- 21. Bt/Anaipanthi Residential Senior Secondary Girls’ EnglishSchool.
- 22. Bt/Anaipanthi Junior Secondary Boys’ Tamil School.
- 23. Bt/Sittandy Senior Secondary Tamil Mixed School.
- 24. Bt/Morokkottanchenai Junior Secondary Tamil Mixed School.
- 25. Bt/Karadithottam Tamil Mixed School.
- 26. Bt/Veeramunai Tamil Mixed School.
With this the direct relationship of the Mission with the schools came to an end.
In September 1962 the Students’ Hostel for the boys at Shivananda Vidyalaya was handed over to the Government.
CENTENARY OF THE BIRTH OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
The Centenary of the the Birth of Swami Vivekananda was observed with due eclat. The year long celebrations culminated in June 1963 with a mammoth procession. Swami Ranganathananda, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Calcutta, was the Chief Guest. That Centenary Year saw the opening of the Vipulananda Memorial Hall by Swami Prematmanandaji on 06.09.1963. Veteran Shivananda Vidyalaya teachers: K. Kanapathipillai and K. Candasamy and lawyers K.V.M. Subramaniam and K.N. Coomarasamy served on the Memorial Hall Building Committee. Swami Srirangananda of the Colombo Mission performed the religious ceremony and delivered the inaugural speech at the meeting held in the newly opened Hall.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
On Vijaya Dasami Day, September 1963, Swami Natarajananda inaugurated the Sunday School in the Vipulananda Memorial Hall to encourage the study of Hinduism to schoolgoing children. The Mission thought it fit to award a gold medal annually, in memory of Swami Vipulananda, to the best candidate creditably successful at the G.C.E. ‘O’ Level at the first appearance from schools in the Batticaloa District and obtaining the highest marks in Hinduism. Accordingly the following candidates were awarded the medals in the years noted against their names :
1965 - R. Thangavadivel- Bt/Vantharamoolai MMV.
1966 - K. Arumugam - Bt/Vantharamoolai MMV.
1967 - Miss Thambiaiyah Dhanalakshmi – Bt/KoddaimunaiM.M.V.
1968- K.Manivannan -Bt/Methodist Central College
1969 - T. Thirunavukkarasu – Bt/Shivananda Vidyalaya
Awarding of this could not be continued as information from the Department of Examinations could not be obtained.
In August 1965, Swami Kutasthananda passed away. He had been the General Manager of the Mission Schools in Batticaloa, Swami-in-Charge of the Batticaloa Centre and Warden of the Boys’ Home (1953-1954). Swami Kutasthananda, (formerly Avykta Chaitanya) was in charge of the Batticaloa Centre during its pioneering days.
On 11th October 1965, His Excellency Shri Bhimsen Sachar the High Commissioner for India in Ceylon visited the Ashrama and Home.
Swami Jivanananda was transferred to the Batticaloa Centre on 17th March 1966.
Swami Natarajananda who had served the Batticaloa Mission as a teacher, as a worker and Manager of the Schools for over two decades passed away on the 16th March 1967.
Swami Jivanananda succeeded him on 17th March 1967.
VISIT OF THE 10TH PRESIDENT, RAMAKRISHNA MATH & RAMAKRISHNA MISSION
His Holiness Srimat Swami Vireswaranandaji Maharaj, the 10th Presidentof the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission visited the Batticaloa Centre for the 2nd time on 10th May 1968. His Holiness and party were received at the Batticaloa Airport and conducted to Kallady-Uppodai in a motorcade. The route was decorated with pandals. In the Batticaloa Ashrama he gave spiritual initiation for four devotees. That evening he laid the foundation for the new building of the Boys’ Home and Ashrama. A well-attended civic reception was accorded him by the Batticaloa Municipality where His Holiness addressed the gathering. His visit to this Centre gave it a new life.The salutary effect of His Holiness’ visit could be gauged by the steady expansion of the activities of the Mission that withstood the extensive damage caused by the cyclone of November 1978. It will not be out of place to quote the comments made by His Holiness in the Visitors’ Book:” I visited this Institution after nearly twenty five years. This is my second visit. I am glad to note that the original spirit of dedication is kept up by all connected with this Institution. I find the children happy and smart. May the blessings of Sri Ramakrishna Deva be on the children. I wish the Institution further progress and usefulness to Society".It will have to be conceded that the blessings of Sri Guru Maharaj invoked by the Revered President Maharaj of the Order have had the benedictory effect on the Mission from then onwards, and in consequence the Centre has recorded a phenomenal growth. It has expanded despite the inestimable ravage caused by the cyclone of November 1978.
RELIGIOUS CLASSES FOR LADIES OF THE LOCALITY
On 08.06.1968 a religious class was inaugurated at the earnest request of the women devotees of this locality. The classes were conducted in the Shrine Hall attached to the Students’ Home. Classes were held regularly from 5.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. on every post-poya day. Congregational prayers and reading from the Life of Sri Sarada Devi formed the main programme.
Srimat Swami Gambhiranandaji Maharaj the then General Secretary of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission visited the Karaitivu Girls’ Home and the Batticaloa Centre on the 28th July 1969. In the evening the Swami addressed a meeting at the Town Hall, presided over by Mr. Devanesan Nesiah, C.A.S., Government Agent, Batticaloa.
NURSERY SCHOOL
Started in 1970 by a few ladies of Kallady - Uppodai under the banner of Sri Krishnabai Mather Sangam, is now called the Sri Sarada Early Childhood Care and Education Centre. Since its inception it is being housed in the Vipulananda Memorial Hall. From April 1992 the administration of the school has come directly under the Mission.